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Steve Coogan Is ‘Happyish’ In New Showtime TV Series

The first trailer for Showtime’s dark comedy Happyish is out, with Steve Coogan questioning the state of his life and the world’s obsession with the pursuit of happiness.

Coogan’s costars include Kathryn Hahn (playing his wife Lee), Bradley Whitford and Ellen Barkin. Coogan, whose most recent TV venture was his BBC2 series The Trip with Rob Brydon, replaced Philip Seymour Hoffman in the title role of Happyish after his death.

Deadline has described the show as a “comedic, soul-searching examination of our pursuit of happiness. Coogan will play the lead role of Thom Payne — now made a British expat — a 44-year-old man whose world is thrown into disarray when his 25-year-old ‘wunderkind’ boss arrives, saying things like ‘digital,’ ‘social’ and ‘viral.’ Is he in need of a ‘rebranding,’ as his mentor insists, or does he just have a ‘low joy ceiling,’ as his corporate headhunter suggests? Maybe pursuing happiness is a fool’s errand? Maybe, after 44 years on this ludicrous planet, settling for happyish is the best one can expect.”